Syrian police are searching for several ancient statues that were stolen from the National Museum in Damascus. The theft was likely committed by an individual, not an organized group, Syrian investigators said on Wednesday, citing AFP.
The Ministry of Culture specified that six statues of the Roman goddess Venus – the tallest of which measures 40.5 centimeters – disappeared from the museum and called for the public’s cooperation in identifying the suspects. The museum has been closed since Monday, when the disappearance of the exhibits was discovered, AFP reported.
The museum reopened on January 8, 2025, a month after rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. For fear of looting, the museum was temporarily closed shortly after the start of the rebel offensive. After the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011, security measures in the museum were tightened – metal gates and cameras were added, and hundreds of artifacts from other parts of Syria were brought to Damascus.
The theft of the statues has sparked outrage among Damascus residents, who agree that such incidents damage the country’s reputation and threaten its cultural heritage. Many have expressed concern that thieves will try to smuggle or sell the statues abroad.
Years of civil war in Syria have seriously damaged several historical monuments, including the ancient city of Palmyra, which was once controlled by the Islamic State organization. Palmyra is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – it is known for its 2000-year-old Roman colonnades and other rare monuments.
